Posted on 05/25/2006 7:19:59 AM PDT by presidio9
Chocolate lovers rejoice. A new study hints that eating milk chocolate may boost brain function.
"Chocolate contains many substances that act as stimulants, such as theobromine, phenethylamine, and caffeine," Dr. Bryan Raudenbush from Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia noted in comments to Reuters Health.
"These substances by themselves have previously been found to increase alertness and attention and what we have found is that by consuming chocolate you can get the stimulating effects, which then lead to increased mental performance."
To study the effects of various chocolate types on brain power, Raudenbush and colleagues had a group of volunteers consume, on four separate occasions, 85 grams of milk chocolate; 85 grams of dark chocolate; 85 grams of carob; and nothing (the control condition).
After a 15-minute digestive period, participants completed a variety of computer-based neuropsychological tests designed to assess cognitive performance including memory, attention span, reaction time, and problem solving.
"Composite scores for verbal and visual memory were significantly higher for milk chocolate than the other conditions," Raudenbush told Reuters Health. And consumption of milk and dark chocolate was associated with improved impulse control and reaction time.
Previous research has shown that some nutrients in food aid in glucose release and increased blood flow, which may augment cognitive performance. The current findings, said Raudenbush, "provide support for nutrient release via chocolate consumption to enhance cognitive performance."
Whoopeee!!!! I'm gonna be a GENIUS!.............
No wonder New Orleans has such a mental giant for a Mayor...
:)
....a FAT Genius, but a genius, nonetheless.......
Dr. Lictepeen!
Are Oreo's also considered brain food?
If so, I'm feeling pretty smart right now.
I eat copious amounts of chocolate (usually bars with fruit in them) and drink pots and pots of coffee when writing. Almonds and pecans are also a useful adjunct to writing work (brain foods). To bring me down, I don't repeat the exercise when editing ... I'm like two different people!
Shut up! There's no chocolate in the house, fool.
Eating chocolate covered walnuts are the way I write best.
There ALWAYS must be chocolate in the house. A house without chocolate is a trash shack.
I eat a little milk chocolate nearly evey day.
There is a new kid on the block..... Walmart.
Although hard to find in the massive array of the Walmart candy Isle, there are 4 large bars of Sam'e Own chocolate.
it is Belgian chocolate and very good. It is superior to both Hershy's and Nestle's. It is les expensive and on par with premium brands. The pure milk chocolate is best followed by the hazelnuts. I didn't find the almond or krispy to be superior, merely average.
This research is brought to you by the good folks at Hersheys.
Come on over..... I stocked up at Walmart yesterday....Sam's Own Belgian chocolate.
Great. So I'm smart, but
my poor teeth look like I've been
on meth for three years . . .
Chocolate is an excellent antioxidant, helps with keeping the veins flexible and now this? All the more reason to keep some in your diet every day.
I buy baker's chocolate and eat one piece everyday (alright, sometimes I have a second one). Lower in fat than most candy bars, too.
This one's for you, Diana!!!!
My wife tried a mulch consisting of cocoa bean hulls in our rose bed.
Now I get smarter each time I venture into the back yard!
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